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Sunday, November 9, 2008

On a tip from my parents and some rave reviews from the winemaking crew, we decided to try August, a (very) small cash-only BYOB on 13th and Wharton Streets in South Philly. Mystery number one was solved when I called to make reservations and they answered the phone "AU-gust", not "au-GUST". At any rate, I would recommend making reservations as early as possible, as a 9:00 seating was all that was available on Saturday night when I called Thursday to make a reservation.

Once inside, it's clear why snagging a table is so hard - there are a fewer of a dozen in them crammed into this South Philly corner storefront. The low lighting does give it an air of intimacy, though it gets a touch loud when full of diners enjoying themselves.

The concept behind August is "Italian with a twist". The menu is a relatively short one, perhaps befitting the small open kitchen, and most of the Italian influence is concentrated in the three or four pasta entrees offered (and the "Italian-style meatloaf"). Prices are very reasonable with all starters under $10 and most entrees comfortably under $20.

Things started off well with L's pan-seared scallops, served with a lovely pan sauce on a bed of mixed greens. The scallops were perfectly cooked and very flavorful. I went with the beet salad, which was 100% beets with ricotta salata, pistachios and a balsamic vinaigrette. The only disappointment here was the ricotta salata, which was shredded rather than in chunks, depriving me of the salty kick I was hoping to get out of the cheese. Our dining companions M and C shared a simple arugula salad that was nicely done as well.

My entree was a pork chop, bone-in served with mashed sweet potatoes and sauteed broccoli. After taking the first bite of the pork, I feared it was overcooked, but once I got into the thicker center of the chop I found it to be cooked just right. The sweet potatoes had a really excellent

creamy texture to them. L got the filet mignon special which (maybe a little oddly) came pre-sliced with sides of mashed potatoes, sauteed zucchini and a mushroom demiglace. The beef was flavorful and perfectly cooked, and the mashed potatoes seemed to have a nice Parmesan-provided kick to them.

Our friends both had pastas: C had the farfalle with crab, porcini and sun-dried tomatoes in a cream sauce. M went for the penne with shrimp and white beans. We had small tastes of each and thought they were both decent.

For dessert, we split the deep-dish pumpkin pie. The pumpkin filling was good - not too custardy, but rich with a touch of what seemed like brown sugar or molasses.

The verdict? I think if you're in the neighborhood, it's definitely worth a visit. Though the menu is not terribly inventive, execution is very solid, and the prices are more than fair. I would be happy to go back, but maybe not for a little while, as August doesn't offer much that I haven't seen before. That said, we can always use places like this: predictable, affordable, friendly spots where the owners' and chefs' care is evident in the food. In these respects, August proves itself an august example.

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Welcome to I'll Eat You!!

I'll Eat You is written by Lauren and her husband Paul. Lauren bakes and makes messes, Paul cooks and is tidy. Lauren likes recipes, cookbooks, and takeout. Paul likes improvisation, drinking Scotch, and eating at home. They both love to create in the kitchen (but not always at the same time), make meals from scratch, and hang out with Oliver, the scrappy little dog made from spare parts. Lauren and Paul are based in Philadelphia, PA. Contact them at illeatyoublog@gmail.com.